ebasteia lies about eight miles southeast of the city from which it takes its name, along the banks of a meandering mountain brook that feeds the Halys river. Founded in the first decade of the thirteenth century by Greek magi fleeing the destruction of the Fourth Crusade, Sebasteia has never quite made it out of spring. Unable to meet the requirements for founding a new conventum in Graecia, the magi of Sebasteia chose to register in Tribunal Syriae instead.